Fame flitters just beyond the grasp of Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles) and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) until Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx) offers to manage the talented girls from the Detroit housing projects. Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, Dreamgirls is a candid but sometimes content-heavy glimpse into the cost of chasing stardom.

Why is Dreamgirls rated PG-13?

Official MPAA Rating: Dreamgirls is rated PG-13 for for language, some sexuality and drug content.

Please read our content details for this movie to help determine if it is suitable for members of your family. We also encourage you to check our full review and our movie information page.

Fame comes with a cost. The young star struck singers soon find themselves being fondled backstage and involved in unmarried, sexual relationships. (A brief scene of an unclothed couple in bed is shown.) While smoking is a common habit for many of the performers, some also use cocaine and other illegal drugs. Degrading racial jokes and the demeaning treatment of women are depicted along with footage of the 1960s Detroit racial riots. Jimmy’s onstage performances include pelvic thrusts, gyrating hips and one scene in which he drops his pants. Along with the portrayal of illegal business practices, the script also contains some sexual comments, profanities and a sexual expletive.

About author

Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for nearly 10 years. She serves as Vice President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness. She and her husband Garry have four sons.